Red Thunder - Victory Brewing Company

metter98

New York

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is quite hazy brownish red in color. It poured with a thin beige head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of oak tannins are present in the nose along with notes of red wine.
T: Like the smell, the taste has lots of flavors of oak tannins along with hints of red wine and vanilla.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Bits of dryness are perceptible.
O: The red wine barrel aging completely changed the dynamics of this beer so it no longer tastes like a Baltic Porter, but like more like an oak aged ale with some red wine flavors. The beer is quite drinkable and hides its alcohol very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:47:27 | More by metter98

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.71/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served in a DC Brau tulip.

A: Not black... or even dark for that matter. Kinda dark, dark brown actually, with a nice mocha head to boot.

S: Definitely smokey, bordering on ash tray territory. Definitely got the wine barrel in the middle.

T: Much more coffee-like than I was expecting. I usually don't associate that with a Baltic Porter at all... more like licorice. After a few more sips, this damn near becomes a Flanders Aud Bruin. Very odd, yet enjoyable in a curious sort of way.

M: Lots of lacing here, not thick and snot-like like I was expecting, and the carbonation is pretty good.

O: One would have to have a microscope to detect any Baltic Porter characteristics here, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 23:16:49 | More by Chaney

da_beers

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in a trade (again, traded Heady Topper, living in VT has its definite Craft Beer related advantages) in a 750 ml Bomber. Best by 11/8/2015.

A - Pours a dark brown, thin tan head. When held up to light, can see the red from the oak red wine barrels used to age it. Decent lacing.

S - Chocalatey and nutty notes. Some spice notes in there that reminded me of the Holidays. Huge on the nose, get slight dryness of red wine in smell.

T - So interesting - starts as somewhat traditional Baltic Porter, but rapidly evolves into something quite unique. Finishes quite dry, like a Merlot.

M - Smooth and warming. Leaves dryness at end.

O - Overall good beer. Couldn't have multiples, not that drinkable. Leaves me very intrigued and wanting to try more beer/wine collabs.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:04:46 | More by da_beers

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 11/8/2015. Pours lightly hazy very dark reddish brown color with a 2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big red wine, oak, tart dark fruits, clove, pepper, toast, roasted malt, leather, grass, floral, and earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of barrel notes with moderate malt balance. Very barrel forward in the aromas, smells a lot like a wild ale. Taste of chocolate, toast, red wine, oak, light roasted malt, raisin, clove, pepper, leather, grass, floral, and earthy spiciness. Moderate tannic fruitiness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, toast, red wine, dark fruit, oak, clove, light roast, floral, grass, leather, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance and complexity of moderate roasted flavors with wine barrel character; and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a moderately slick and tannic mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice barrel aged Baltic porter. Very nice complexity of flavors with good balance of barrel and roasted flavors; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering; and one of the most unique and interesting beers I have ever tried.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:05:02 | More by superspak

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a murky and dark brown with some red highlights, plume of dense tan head, gone quickly. Scent is big on the red wine character - vinous and oaky. Base beer is underlying with notes of brown sugar, chocolate, fruit, spice, alcohol. Taste again bold with the red wine notes, base beer hidden a bit underneath and that is tough to do with such a bold base. Felt a bit thinner than expected, moderate carbonation and dry. Solid beer, but heavy on the wine which clouds up a very good base beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 14:47:01 | More by rfgetz

bonkers

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a snifter, reddish brown pour, creamy white head. Tannic notes, oak notes, on the nose. The flavors of red wine and oak are overlaid with chocolate malts, slight acidic taste. The beer is creamy, full bodied, no discernable ABV. Decent beer, actually enjoy the base beer more.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:17:44 | More by bonkers

emerge077

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

More Flanders-style than the the base Baltic Porter, and pretty nice actually.

Reddish brown in the glass, dark but with good clarity. Thin layer of tan foam on the surface with minimal lace. Foam has a creamy surface texture and a slight audible crackle as it ebbs away.

Funky barrel aromas of leather and wet wood, toasted staves, a little roast malt from the base at room temperature.

Tart and tannic, plenty of dry oak barrel character, some vinous berry and leather, red wine and roast malt are seamlessly blended. Super dry tannic aftertaste with a hint of grape. Medium bodied, supple carbonation. A nice wild sipper.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 04:57:50 | More by emerge077

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Enjoy by 11/05/15.Consumed 2/22/13. C&C.

A: Dark plum coloring has a dense rise of effervesce that rapidly ascends up along the inner walls. A one finger barley tinted head has a marshmellow like texture with a spledily lengthy hold you dont want to wait around for. Waverly stratified rings of lace condesend down the vessel.

S: Hints of oaky sherry with a small tartness can be had on the nose.

T: Cocoa with creamy chocolate and toasty oak with some creamer-laced coffee. Vanilla, soft hazelnut, and a caramel sweetness with some soft fruity accents of berry skins. Sweet plums, a soft yeastiness and tartness concludes things.

M: Creamy textured, playful carbonation presence, medium-full bodied with a tart finish.

O: Overall a good complexity with a silky smooth tartness that is gentle, A good easy blend that works smoothly together and doesnt seem forced.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:50:52 | More by beerthulhu

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2013-02-28 in Columbia, PA

A - Reasonably clear dark brown with a touch of ruby. 1.5 finger head at first fades to a skim coat quickly and leaves nice lacing.

S - Red wine, oak, light vanilla, medium roasted grain. Nice but not overly-complex.

T - Reminds me of a barleywine aged in a red wine barrel. Dark fruit, burgundy, raisins, medium roasted grain, oak, some caramel, vanilla. Finishes spicy with some citrus, sweet-yet-charred-malt, alcohol and decent bitterness.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Thinner than I expected but not watery by any means.

O - I enjoyed this brew but wasn't blown away. Something a bit different for sure, which is always nice. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 22:29:21 | More by Tucquan

Morey

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Reddish-Brown in the glass (perhaps a bit thin for the style).

Aroma: Big dry red wine notes, subtle roasted char, dry.

Taste: Huge notes of dry red wine. Subtle roasty flavors underneath.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation.

Morey's Bottom Line: This is an Amazing beer IMO. I feel that it's underrated in a big way.

Full Review here.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfsXFnzKTto

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 23:37:17 | More by Morey

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Baltic Thunder aged in Wine Barrels

A - Has a fairly dark ruby brown hue, mildly hazy with a full inch of mocha head.
S - Very sour and funky and it seems to have lost any roast or chocolate in the aroma.
T - Very interesting I get some sour cherry and grape at first, then the roast comes center with some smoky favor and then I get the a bit of chocolate. It finishes with some herbal hops and some grape skins. Definitely the most interesting beer I had all year.
M - Medium, chewy, sour, and bitter. Roast and hops cling to the palate after every sip.
Overall at times it does seem too wine like but its fairly balanced and easy enough to finish the bomber. The best wine influenced beer I ever had.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 05:12:03 | More by DrDemento456

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Draft at Capones in Norristown, PA.

Pours a very dark copper color with mahogany edges and a two finger frothy head that slowly fades into a lasting ring.  Streaks of lace left behind.

Roasted dark malt aroma with an earthy barrel and dry vinous notes integrated into the base beer.  Toasted oak and dark grapes complimented by smokey, roasted malt.  Hints of dark chocolate and burnt toast along with some charcoal and smoked meat but the oak and vinous fruit notes overpower the smoke beer characteristics a bit too much for my taste.

Full bodied with a moderate barrel presence that's nicely integrated into the base adding another dimension to the intense smokiness.  Dry, toasted oak with vinous red wine notes countered by smoked/burnt malt, toast, charcoal and dark chocolate.  Sweet up front from the barrel presence followed by smoke and roasted malt before finishing dry.  Decent job barrel aging this beer but the wine and barrel notes take away from the smokiness that I like so much in the base beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2013 03:20:38 | More by corby112

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Pours a brown color with a red hue. Settles into the glass as a cola color with a thin beige head. The head fades quickly and leaves a ring of carbonation bubbles around the edges of the glass.

S- Tons of aromas with the red wine and roasted malt coming through the most. There is also a strong oaky aroma as well as chocolate. A hint of sour funk is noticeable too.

T- The taste showcases the Baltic porter more than the red wine barrels. Big roasts and chocolatey flavors up front with the red wine flavors hitting in the middle and the finish. Nice funky red wine finish with a hint of sour and oak .

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation, smooth and roasty with a somewhat dry and tart finish.

O- Interesting combination of flavors that work to a certain extent. I would like a little more from the barrel, but with a big roasty porter, it can be difficult. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:30:14 | More by stephenjmoore

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.01/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish brown color with a creamy, tan head with maybe a reddish tint. Am I imagining the red coloration in this because of the name and barrel type in the beer? I don't think so. Looks very unusual and very cool.

Smell is dominated by red wine. Some sweet and very lightly roasty malt character, but barrel first and foremost and not a great deal of complexity, smells really good though.

Taste is similar but more fully realized. Loads of wine barrel character, held up by fairly sweet chocolaty malt character. Some light acidity/bitterness from the barrels but this isn't really a sour. Very good.

Mouthfeel is wonderful, incredibly creamy, thickness is just right, they really nailed the feel on this.

Overall a great beer, might be barrel dominated but it works well anyway and I greatly enjoyed this.

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 04:50:06 | More by AlexFields

Googs

New York

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a teku glass

A: Deep red, mahogany body with medium sized off white head. Some lacing on the glass.

S: I love the smell that comes from wine barrel aged beers, and this comes through strongly on the nose. Smells similar to other American Wild ales, tart and oaky, Consecration is one that comes to mind. Some sweet, fruity, roasted malts, typical from Baltic porters, are coming through as well. Complex and great smelling brew.

T: Upfront the wine barrel really comes through again. A dry and sweet, lactic/tart grape flavor that is followed by the cocoa and dark porter characteristics. Nicely done, but the flavors need to come together a bit better

M: Medium body, but really creamy which is a big plus for. Good amount of carbonation, somewhat dry and roasty. A pretty drinkable beer all things considered.

O: I really enjoy beer thrown into wine barrels, and I'm eager to try more dark and heavy beers from either red or white oak barrels. I think a beer like consecration has flavors that blend together better which make for a better beer. Even so, Victory did a solid job on what they set out to do and for the price, this is awesome. I recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 01:00:25 | More by Googs

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.39/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: deep dark copper/dark brown color, very nice thick rocky head, tan head
S: mild to medium nose, malt with some tannins noticeable from wine, almost like a Baltic Porter with some lambic undertones
T: nicely done, deep roasted chocolate malt, underlying tannins from wine
M: creamy and highly drinkable for ABV

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 14:13:54 | More by wisrarebeer

russwbeck

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Black pour with a booming off-white head. The head builds up quickly, sticks around, and sticks to the sides of the glass. 4.5

S: The aroma is not unlike some American Wild Ales I've come across, which I attribute to the white wine barrels. Slightly tart, the aroma is sweet and fruity. I'm not noticing a lot of baltic porter characteristics, however. 3.5

T: The baltic porter is much more noticeable on the taste, but the white wine is still there as well. Not quite as tart, the wine is full of sweet grapes and crisp. The porter is there throughout, with roasted malts as an undertone for the wine, and then at the end the roast comes out in a big way to close the beer out. The taste is great to me, but the wine and the porter don't exactly mix. They more exist together. 4

MF: The body isn't as full as I would have expected, but the carbonation level is right on point. I found the beer to be very drinkable despite the disjointed taste. The finish is clean. 4.5

O: This was a strange beer that I'm still not sure how I feel about. Perhaps with more time this will turn into something great, but for now it was just...interesting. The flavors need to play together better. 4

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:02:06 | More by russwbeck

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750mL bomber poured into a snifter

A dark brown, near black body with a creamy off-white cap that fell to a faint collar rather quickly.

The nose is of cocoa powder, dark malt, cherries, damp oak, red wine, and some mild roast. A nuanced aroma, that is delicately layered.

This has mellowed out nicely. Cocoa notes are strong throughout. Red wine, damp oak, mild roast, and some cherries all poking through here and there. Subtle layers of flavor. The finish is dry with a mellow red wine influence.

Full-bodied. Smooth and lush.

A fine take on a red wine barrel aged porter. The flavors are very complementary and layered in complexity. A little too subtle to warrant a higher score, but this is pretty delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 17:55:27 | More by ColForbinBC

ksimons

New York

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-dark chestnut with ruby highlights and a fingers worth of light tan head

S-rich malt, chocolate, and red wine

T-taste starts with roasted malt, chocolate, and light coffee, and finishes with a bit of oakiness, and dry tart red wine flavor. Alcohol is well hidden.

M-medium body, light to medium carbonation, and a dry roasted feeling in the mouth

Overall I am glad I finally found this beer. I really like the combination of the porter and red wine, I think it really brings out some interesting flavors in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 00:00:55 | More by ksimons

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I'm assuming this is Baltic Thunder aged in wine barrels since you can't find any infomation on the website, which is odd.

Pours a deep auburn brown color with a thin head on top after a vigorious pour. Fades to froth on top.
In the aroma I get a big toasted malt smell followed by oak barrel or church pews. The oak is light and sutle and you need to draw in deeply to smell it.
Taste was really disappointing. Perhaps this is just a malt beverage in wine barrels.
Taste of oak and wine barrels are there but where is the beer. I'm not getting any evidence of a porter style beer.
Mouthfeel is thin and watery with a husky bitter finish.
To me while this beer drinks smooth and easy it lacks in flavor. One can hardly notice any beer at all. I would thick that Baltic porter was aged in wine barrels to give the beer sutle hints of wine and oak perhaps leaning towards a port. Not the case here, and since I can't find any info on the website maybe they know it too.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 13:17:29 | More by micromaniac129

jhartley

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cork and caged 750ml. bottle poured into a poco grande flute glass.

A-Poured a ruby red to brown color with a tan 1 finger head which had real nice tight bubbles but it dissipated quickly.

S-Cherries, booze, coffee, really picking up on the red wine and something like leather.

T-Decent porter and wine flavors from the barrel. Real light sweet and tart cherry flavors. Smells boozy but I don't really pick up on as much as the smell implies. Really starts to come into its own as it warms.

M-Nice and dry finish with a lingering red wine flavor. Sweet, but not cloying

O- I really like this beer. I wasn't able to get any of the Dark Intrigue release last year and was happy to hear that Victory and produced a lot more of this so it would be out in a larger distribution for a longer period of time. I really like the red wine flavors matched with the porter, it's awesome to see Victory trying more with barrel aging.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 20:41:14 | More by jhartley

Jonada

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 750ml corked and caged bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with hints of ruby red. Nice carbonation streaming through the glass. There was about 1 finger of a light tan head that dissipated to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Red wine, chocolate, tart cherries, oak, booze, red berries. This smells surprisingly tart, but that's not a bad thing.

Taste: Porter characteristics are more apparent in the taste. Chocolate, roasted malt, slight coffee. More oaky and vinous notes as well. Finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation. Very drinkable.

Overall: Interesting stuff. The red wine characteristics were much more prominent than I was expecting and added some additional complexity. I really would liked to have seen more of the base beer shine through, but this was still a solid brew. Glad I picked this one up, and I wouldn't be opposed to revisiting it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 05:49:46 | More by Jonada

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass.

I so thoroughly enjoy the base that a wine-barreled version piqued my interest greatly. Expectations were high. It pours a deep garnet topped by a finger of dusty tan foam. The nose comprises cinnamon, brown sugar, lightly-vinegar-y red wine, and light cedar. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some dark chocolate and some extra red wine for the sake of it. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, this turned out to be pretty tasty, though it falls quite short of the base, if you ask me. It's thinner and not quite as robust as the base would lead you think it'd be. Still, fairly good times here.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 01:12:10 | More by TMoney2591

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark brown color with bright ruby highlights and a small tan head that slowly recedes to leave some decent lacing.

Aromas begin with chocolate and lightly roasted malt initally. Then I get some oak, light vinous notes and some toffee sweetness as it warms.

The tastes begin with the same roasted and dark cocoa maltiness up front with hints or red vinous wine and oak creeping in mid-sip. The red wine imparted flavors aren't jumping out as much as I would have liked but they are still there enough to balance the dark roasted base beer.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is pleasantly balanced between the roasted base beer and the oaky, vinious sweeter notes.

Overall I enjoyed this beer as it is very drinkable due to the lesser ABV (compared to most American barrel aged beers these days). The red wine flavors should have been bumped up to really make this special but it was still above average how it currently is.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 16:37:57 | More by claspada

Ryan011235

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Founders snifter on 1/1/13

Dark brown with an ample two and a half finger head. The foam thins after several minutes. Lots of webbed, crackling lace remains. Lace becomes solid further down.

The wine barrels add a dark, vinous overtone to the base of chocolate and roasted grains. The aroma is simple and smooth. I'm impressed by its subtlety.

Roasted grains and chocolate are at the fore in terms of taste. Notions of red wine creep in around the mid-section. Hints of earth, too. Over time, the focus shifts toward smooth chocolate working in conjunction with the wine. The finish has a wood note and is rather dry.

The body is on the upper end of medium, accentuated by smooth, plush carbonation. It's all a bit surprising since carbonation started off kind of rough. Very east to drink.

I was a little hesitant to buy a bottle of this. Thankfully, it worked out in my favor. The wine barrels don't come across as being over the top and a Baltic Porter seems like a decent style to wine barrel; several I've tried had dark fruit notions as they were.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 06:47:50 | More by Ryan011235